21 de September de 2023
The Zurich Marató Barcelona 2024 unveils a new course
• Next 10th of March, the Zurich Marató Barcelona will introduce a new route that is more urban, faster, and turistic.
• The start line of the biggest Barcelona’s race will take place on Passeig de Gràcia, between Gran Vía and Plaça Catalunya, and the finish line will be at the Arc de Triomf.
• The new route will include at least 15 iconic points of the city and it will primarly run through the city center.
The Zurich Marató Barcelona is closely connected to the evolution of its city. Therefore, due to construction work in Plaza España and Avenida María Cristina, the Marató will debut with a new, faster, more urban, more central and more monumental course next 10th of March. This change in the circuit comes after more than two decades of the previous circular and more peripheral route.
“We have designed this new route with all types of runners in mind, with the help of different profiles that have been actively involved with the Zurich Marató Barcelona in recent years. The objective is very clear: to maintain the essence of the city, to have a fast route to achieve the best times, and at the same time to be very lively for all the citizens and visitors on the day of the Marató. We have put everything in the shaker and, with the technical premises of mobility and many hours invested, we have come up with a great circuit, which we will be able to enjoy next 10th of March”, explains the race director, Mauro Llorens.
David Escudé, Sports Councillor of the Barcelona City Council, has declared: “During all these years of history, Barcelona’s Marathon has had many different routes and every change has always been to improve this great event. Now, after almost two decades with the same circuit, a new stage arrives with the Zurich Marató Barcelona 2024, which will be faster, with only 33 turns, more central, with a start line in Passeig de Gràcia and a finish tile at the Arc de Triomf, and very monumental”.
In fact, the new route will pass through more than fifteen emblematic spots in Barcelona: from the start line in Passeig de Gràcia to the finish line at the Arc de Triomf, passing through the Monumental, Casa Batlló, Bac de Roda’s Bridge, Sagrada Familia, Ninot Market, University of Barcelona, Sant Antoni Market, Plaça Catalunya, Columbus Monument, Estació de França, Parc de la Ciutadella, Hotel Arts or Parc del Fòrum.
The new course will be flatter and faster than ever before in the history of this race, reducing the elevation gain by more than 30 metres compared to the previous circuit. The lowest point will be only 8 metres above sea level and the highest point will be 50 metres above sea level. In addition, up to six turns have been reduced compared to the old course. The new circuit will have only 33 turns, making it one of the marathons with the fewest turns in the world. The longest straight will be 4.9 kilometres. The new circuit will be the ninth change of course since the birth of the Barcelona Marathon in 1980. For the first time, the runners will run down Avinguda Paral·lel: the last two kilometres of the old circuit, which were among the most difficult, will now be two of the fastest of the entire course.
A route designed for the participants to enjoy, as well as for those accompanying them. Animation will be one of the strong points of the day, given that the new Zurich Marató Barcelona circuit is very central. It will be possible to get to different points of the circuit just a few minutes walking, as well as having a great connectivity with public transport.
| Four initiatives of the organisation for 2024 In the context of a new stage, the Zurich Marató Barcelona 2024 has designed four different actions so that everyone can feel integrated in the great celebration of athletics in Barcelona. The first one, though for the local runners, will be Corre a casa (Run at home). The organisation has designed 10 circuits of different distances to run in iconic areas of the city, with the aim of making the streets of Barcelona their home: to experience the sensation of running while seeing the sights of Barcelona from the Carretera de les Aigües, crossing the Diagonal or enjoying the Passeig Marítim. The second, which will also serve as the slogan for the 45th Zurich Marató Barcelona, will be Make it Yours. The organisers will give the opportunity to participate in the Marathon as each runner chooses: or by taking on the traditional 42 km challenge next 10th of March or with an innovative format, where participants will have to accumulate 32 km in 7 previous days to the race from anywhere in the world, to add up the 42 km by running the last 10 kilometres of the official Barcelona’s marathon route. Besides, the great Barcelona’s athletics day also wants to improve the atmosphere that surrounds the race and to reward the most loyal runners. For this reason, the third proposal is the Marathon Masters, a loyalty programme which will recognise those who have participated in five, ten, fifteen or twenty editions of the Zurich Marató Barcelona since 2006, moment in which the Marathon changed its organiser and the circuit was established until 2023. All those who register in this programme will be part of a Hall of Fame and will have more advantages than the rest of the participants. Finally, Hot Spots is the fourth initiative, for aiming all entities, clubs, groups or groups that want to have visibility and participate in the Zurich Marató Barcelona’s party. In the 2024 edition, it will increase the quantity and quality of the animation points of the new circuit, making them more culturally diverse. Subsequently, through a survey and social media, the best Hot Spot (animation point) will be chosen and will be rewarded economically. |
Other new features The 45th edition of the Marató is expected to reach or exceed 17,000 registered participants. It should be added that, with six months to go, this event already has more than 4,500 registered participants. In addition, On will be an Official Partner of the Zurich Marató Barcelona 2024 in the footwear, textile, and sports accessories category. Founded in 2010, On was born in the Swiss Alps with a clear goal: to revolutionize the sensation of running. A unique vision of comfortable and efficient shoes with innovative technology that allows you to enjoy running as a sport from a unique experience. Smooth landings followed by explosive, dynamic take-offs. Their product and brand development is decidedly focused on leadership in sustainability and circularity, and their portfolio of professional athletes includes Olympic athletes and World Champions in various disciplines. On is currently the fastest-growing running brand in the world. |
